46 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



to work at 7 or 8 a. m. ; from that time on till noon they 

 are kept going. At noon the team is either fed in nose 

 bags or one box suffices for both horses. At this time 

 the driver will notice that one horse is not eating; the 

 chances are he has not drunk any water, but this was 

 not noted. No hay, or but a very small amount, is given. 



Symptoms. — At 1 p. m. they are again hooked 

 up and put to work, the horse goes fairly well until 

 about 2 :30, when he becomes slow, does not want to 

 keep up his end of the load ; on being struck with the 

 whip he will spurt up for a short distance, but soon is 

 lagging back again. As soon as allowed to stop he will 

 look around at his side, likely paw a little with one foot ; 

 if pressed onward he will shortly get to wanting to lie 

 down in the harness, and will do so as soon as allowed 

 to stop. 



About this time it is noticed that the horse is com- 

 mencing to breathe hard, and that he is also starting to 

 bloat. Now is the time when everyone around will sug- 

 gest that horse be given a dose of nitre for his kidneys. 

 The driver will just have remembered he has not urinated 

 during the entire day. This, from their viewpoint, is 

 positive proof that the horse is bothered with a "stoppage 

 of the kidneys." A dose (sweet spirits of nitre) is pre- 

 pared in size varying from fifteen drops to three ounces. 



After a time they notice he is growing worse on the 

 nitre. You are called. This is seldom done until the 

 horse is very far along. You will find him wet with per- 

 spiration and usually a mass of mud, rolling from side 

 to side, pulse weak and fast, breathing very labored, and 

 with a very anxious look from the eyes. 



